Alltel Wireless and Txtstation are expanding their existing relationship to provide in-venue SMS fan polls for 10 select Alltel-sponsored basketball properties.

The two parties recently concluded a four-month football campaign involving an in-venue text messaging feature across five college and two NFL properties. As the "Official Wireless Partner of Fans," Alltel Wireless will continue to leverage Txtstation's interactive mobile campaign capabilities at all remaining home basketball games for the ten participating universities.

"Alltel wants to be seen as the number-one wireless company, and they want to activate their brand with sports properties," said Michael Falato, vice president of sales and business development for Txtstation, Austin, TX. "They're using us to help activate those sponsorships with colleges by getting people to engage in real-time SMS polls.

"They can see the results light up on the JumboTron and watch the percentages change each time someone texts in," he said. "The hook is to get them to answer an emotional question about the team, the sport or the school, then offer them a chance to enter the My Circle Hoops Getaway promotion."

The schools involved in the partnership are the University of Arizona, Clemson University, Duke University, University of Florida, University of Montana, North Carolina State University, University of Nebraska, South Dakota State University, the University of South Florida and the University of Virginia.

The first text feature, called the 'Alltel Fan Poll,' will pose a compelling question to fans attending the game and ask them to weigh-in with their opinions.

The second feature will promote the national "My Circle Hoops Getaway sweepstakes" (see story).

If fans opt into the My Circle Hoops Getaway sweepstakes, they will be entered to win a trip to watch their team play at a competitor's school.

At each home game, fans will be able to interact with the videotron feature by sending a text message from their wireless phone.

Within seconds, votes will appear live on the screen, causing the percentages to change. The goal is to provide a fun and entertaining experience that helps Alltel's branding offers.

"Alltel understands that SMS is a great way to engage fans and encourage participation in the My Circle sweepstakes," Mr. Falato said. "They've taken the time to make fans' experience engaging and understand how to get fans to interact with the schools' and Alltel's brands."

Txtstation is a mobile marketing company specializing in sports and entertainment allowing broadcasters, event owners, sponsors and general media to communicate with consumers directly through mobile phones, the Internet and landlines.

Txtstation creates one-to-one real-time dialogue with consumers at live events, concerts and through various broadcast and media channels.

Since 2004, Txtstation's goal is to deliver high consumer response and encourage brand loyalty.

Txtstation offers its services and connections to more than 100 countries, and is currently working in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Italy and South Africa.

"Txtstation has delivered a customized in-game feature that lives true to our brand positioning and meets our activation goals," said Samira Zebian, director of marketing sponsorships for Alltel Wireless, in a written statement.

"We look forward to continuing the Alltel Fan Poll through the basketball season to give fans an easy and fun way to vote on hot topics directly from their wireless phone," she said.